Autism: Top 5 Recommendations For Changing to a Gluten and Casein Free Diet

Autism and Diet

Autism is a disorder that must be treated with a variety of methods since there is no effective way to cure completely it. Some parents have expressed that one of the ways they have helped keep the symptoms of autism under control is by studying diet regiments. Some parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) reported that by monitoring their child’s diet that they saw a significant improvement in their child’s behavior when the diet was free of the proteins gluten and casein.

Although from the research, Mayo clinic noted that a gluten-free diet is for the treatment of celiac disease. Some individuals who don’t have celiac disease also may have symptoms when they eat gluten; however, this is called non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Now, one may be asking what exactly is gluten and casein.

Gluten and Casein

According to Mayo Clinic, “A gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes the protein gluten. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye, and a cross between wheat and rye called triticale.” Further, gluten helps foods maintain their shape, acting as a glue that holds food together (Celiac.org). Whereas casein is found in dairy products such as milk and cheese. Foods containing gluten and casein are major sources of protein as well as providing essential minerals and vitamins such as calcium and vitamin D.

As noted on Celiac.org: The Big 3 Gluten are Wheat, Barley, Rye

Wheat is commonly found in:

• breads
• baked goods
• soups
• pasta
• cereals
• sauces
• salad dressings
• roux

Barley is commonly found in:

• malt
• food coloring
• soups
• malt vinegar
• beer

Rye is commonly found in:

• rye bread, such as pumpernickel
• rye beer
• cereals

Triticale is a newer grain, specifically grown to have a similar quality as wheat, while being tolerant to a variety of growing conditions like rye. It can potentially be found in:

• breads
• pasta
• cereals

According to the research, the difficulty in digesting both gluten and casein comes from an inability to digestive or handle the peptides in these substances. Since they are not broken down as in a normal body, these extra peptides are absorbed into the blood stream. Elevated levels of peptides may disrupt brain functions.

Recommendations

Although there are many resources related to having a diet free of gluten and casein, as some parents are seeing positive behavior changes when these dietary changed are implemented. However, as noted by Autismspeaks, at this time, more clinical studies and evidence of safety and benefits are not available, so  parents who decide to place their child on a gluten or casein free diet should take extra precaution to ensure they do so in a reliable and safe manner.

• First, when parents decide to try a gluten-casein free diet for their child,  it is recommended that they consult with their primary doctor or a dietary counselor such as a nutritionist or dietitian. With the internet offering immediate information, it may seem easy just to find gluten-casein free dietary plans; however, few parents—or physicians—have the understanding or experience to determine whether a child’s diet is providing all the necessary requirements for normal growth and development.

• Autismspeaks recommend that parents bring the nutritionist or dietician a 3- to 5-day dietary history for their child (writing down what was eaten and how much) and have this reviewed to determine whether there is a real risk for nutritional deficiency.  The nutritionist or dietician can then work with the family to add foods or supplements that address potential gaps in nutrition.

• Next, after establishing a plan for a safe and complete diet, it is recommended that parents set up a reliable way to measure their child’s response to the diet. This should start before the diet is begun, with a list of the specific behaviors that the family would like to see improve.  Parents should not  attempt to implement a gluten-casein diet all at once, but slowly begin reducing the amounts of bread, grains, and milk products until the individual is eating none.

• Next, the parents should document each day what the child is eating and any behavioral changes.  Further, the parent should also document the overall child’s day i.e. did the child sleep well, were there any major changes in the child’s routine, did anything unusual happen, etc. This will assist with identifying whether it is related to the food or the child’s routine being changed.

• In addition, the parents should attempt to recruit teachers, babysitters, and others outside the family to support the process and monitor any targeted behaviors and verify your perception of changes.

Overall, maintaining a balanced diet is a healthy thing to do, and if there is a consensus that improvements are occurring, the family should continue to eliminate food slowly and document the changes for a period of time, as the diet may be worth the cost and effort. However, the process of documenting could also assist with providing the doctor/ dietitian with relevant information if further adjustments need to be made to your child’s diet regiment.

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Sources:

Autism Speaks: https://www.autismspeaks.org/node/112986

Celiac: https://celiac.org/live-gluten-free/glutenfreediet/what-is-gluten/

Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/gluten-free-diet/art-20048530